Nalco to tap renewable energy for power requirements

MUMBAI: National Aluminium Company (Nalco) is betting big on renewable energy resources to meet its rising power requirements.

Nalco has commissioned its wind power plants with 50 MW and 50.4 MW capacity in Rajasthan and Maharastra, respectively, at a cost of Rs 669 crore. The company plans to set up another wind power plant of 50 MW capacity and looking at suitable location in the country.

Techno-commercial bids for selection of wind power developer were opened in last December and price bid is in the process of being opened, the company said in its annual report.

The company also plans to set up a 20 MW solar power plant in Madhya Pradesh. The project is registered with MPNRED (Madhya Pradesh New & Renewable Energy Department) and 55.62 Ha land has been transferred to the department in November, 2016.

Application for grid connectivity permission was also submitted to Madhya Pradesh Paschim Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company. The company has issued notice inviting tender (NIT) for selection of developer for EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) for 50 MW solar power project at a suitable location in India.

It has placed an order to commission 50 KWp rooftop solar power plant at Nalco Research and Technology Centre in Bhubaneswar with a total project cost of Rs 37.30 lakh.

Nalco has also signed an MoU with NTPC to form a joint venture company, Gajamara Power Project for establishment of 3X800 MW coal based power plant at Gajamara at Dhenkanal in Odisha for supplying power to smelter expansion projects, the company said.

In FY17, the company has made the capital expenditure of Rs 876.09 crore, which includes Rs 38.47 crore towards equity contribution to joint venture companies.

Among the major expansion plans, the company is in the process of setting up 5th stream in its existing alumina refinery, which will add 1.0 million tonnes per year (MTPY) to its existing capacity of 2.275 MTPY, at a capital expenditure of Rs 5,540 crore in Odisha.

"We are adding 1.0 MTPY to its existing capacity of 2.275 MTPY, at a capital expenditure of Rs 5,540 crore based on improved medium pressure digestion technology of RTAIL (Rio Tinto Alcan International Ltd). The company has obtained major statutory clearances like environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment & Forests and Climate Change(MoEF and CC) and Consent to Establish (CTE) from Odisha State Pollution Control Board. Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (India) has been appointed as EPCM consultant for the project," the report said.

The coal ministry has allotted Utkal D and E Coal blocks to the company, which is expected to help in raw material securitisation to the company.

The company also said that Pottangi Bauxite mines with 75 million tonnes capacity has been reserved by the government in favour of the company. The Odisha government had issued the terms and conditions for issuance of mining lease in favour of Nalco in July last year and activities are undertaken for complying with various conditions to obtain the mining lease, it said.